The RSPB: Goosander Goosander Conservation status: Green These handsome diving ducks are a member of the sawbill family, so called because of their long, serrated bills, used for catching fish. A largely freshwater bird, the goosander first bred in the UK in 1871. It built up numbers in Scotland and then since 1970 it has spread across northern England into Wales, reaching south-west England. Its love of salmon and trout has brought it into conflict with fishermen. It is gregarious, forming into flocks of several thousand in some parts of Europe. Illustrations Goosander | John James Audubon's Birds of America John James Audubon's Birds of America Plate 331 Goosander This species may be said to be a constant resident with us, as many individuals breed in the interior of the states of New York, Massachusetts, and Maine. When I first resided in Kentucky, some bred there also, although at the present day none pass the summer in that country.

In the latter part of autumn, in winter, and in early spring, they are found in all parts of the Union; in Texas I procured some in April, 1837, and in the beginning of May saw a considerable flock in Galveston Bay. How much farther southward their migrations extend I know not, but from having observed them coming from that direction, I suspect that they advance pretty far into the interior of Mexico, from which some perhaps cross to the Arkansas river, on which I have also seen them. On the Mississippi, the Ohio, and their tributaries, Goosanders are found during the coldest weather; and when the larger streams are covered with ice, they betake themselves to such smaller creeks as have very rapid currents or cascades, about which they feed. But there are parts of our southern coast, where they are exceedingly rare, such as South Carolina, where my friend Dr. BACHMAN has never seen one, and the Floridas, in which none occurred to me during my rambles there.

Indeed one is surprised to find that among birds like this, which is so hardy as to remain in our North-eastern States during the severest part of the winter, some should extend their movements at the same season as far to the south-west as Texas; but facts like these are beyond our philosophy. In the lower parts of Louisiana, this species is called the "Bec-scie-de-mer," probably because there it is found only on the large salt-water lakes, and about the mouths of the Mississippi, and to distinguish it from the Hooded Merganser, which there is more usually seen on fresh water. I have been assured by Professor MACCULLOCH of Pictou that it now and then breeds in Nova Scotia. Yet I found none in Labrador or Newfoundland, where the Red-breasted species was breeding in great numbers. Dr. RICHARDSON found it in abundance in the Fur Countries. The Goosander is a vigorous and robust bird.

It swims deeply, but with considerable speed, even against a strong current, running waters being generally preferred by it, even when rather shallow, provided their beds are of sand or pebbles, for it is rarely seen on muddy or stagnant waters, even during the breeding season, when it returns to the inland lakes. Like the Grebes it has the power of sinking backwards, and it dives expertly, remaining occasionally several minutes beneath the surface. It usually swims and dives against the current, and close by the shores, extricating itself from floating ice by passing under it. Its voracity is great, so that it consumes an extraordinary quantity of fish. I have found fishes in its stomach seven inches in length, and of smaller kinds so many as to weigh more than half a pound. Digestion takes place with great rapidity, insomuch that some which I have fed in captivity devoured more than two dozen of fishes about four inches in length, four times daily, and yet always seemed to be desirous of more. The alleged awkwardness of this bird when on shore is a fable, for I have seen individuals while courting in spring run with great celerity fifty or more yards at a time, keeping nearly in an erect position.

On occasions of this kind I have observed on the sand-bars of the Mississippi flocks of seven or eight males chasing each other with great animosity. At other times, however, they are not fond of walking much, but when on shore are generally seen lying flat on the ground. At times the Mergansers rise almost at once on wing from the water, but at others they seem to find considerable difficulty, patting it with their feet for many yards. These differences seem to depend on various circumstances, such as their being suddenly surprised, or during violent winds. They generally, if not always, rise on wing against the breeze. The flight of the Goosander is powerful, and as rapid and sustained as that of the Red-breasted and Hooded Mergansers. When fairly under way and at a good height, they advance in an almost direct course and proceed with surprising velocity, so that, when suddenly apprised of the vicinity of man, they at times find it difficult to check their speed so quickly as may be necessary for their safety.

I well remember that on several occasions having watched one of these birds flying directly up a creek and towards me, I have taken aim at it and fired when it was at the proper distance, and yet such had been its velocity that it would advance, after being shot, many yards towards me. When rising from the water, whatever number may be in the flock, they all start together, paddle off with their feet and wings, stretching out their necks, and thus run as it were on the water to the distance of twenty or thirty yards with great velocity, extending in a front, or following each other in a line, according to the extent of the space before them. They then gradually ascend to the height of the trees, and move off to some considerable distance, but often return to the same place. They seem to ascertain the fertility of the waters by sipping a little on their alighting, and then, having found appearances favourable, they open their bills, apparently to take a deep inspiration, and immediately dive. When they have procured a sufficiency of food, they betake themselves to some sand-bar, on which they repose until it is digested.

The Goosander rises to the surface with the fish in its bill, and, shifting it about until it is in a proper position, swallows it head foremost, then dives for more. So deeply does it swim, that on such occasions not more than a third of its body is seen on the surface; and there is very little chance of shooting it, for it dives on seeing the flash, or even on hearing the click of the lock. The only chance of procuring one at such times is when, on coming to the surface, it stretches itself up and beats its wings. If it is only wounded, it often exhibits great tenacity of life, and diving at once remains a long time in the water. On emerging, it is seen shaking its head violently, for the purpose of disgorging its food, and, perhaps, the blood that has flowed into its lungs; and, on effecting this, it again plunges headlong.

At length, you see it come to the surface, with its beautifully tinged breast upwards; but if your object be to obtain game, you will have little satisfaction in procuring a Goosander or any of its genus, for they are all fishy, oily, tough, and fitted for the palate of none but experienced epicures. The food of the Goosander consists chiefly of fish, but also of bivalve shells, snails, leeches, aquatic lizards, crays, and frogs. Now, good reader, spring has once more gladdened the face of nature, pearly drops hang on every leaf, glistening in the bright sunshine, and thousands of gay insects flutter around. My light canoe is ready. Leap in, seat yourself snugly in the bow, and sit still while I paddle you to the green islands of this beautiful lake, where we shall probably find a Merganser or two, perhaps a female sitting on her eggs. As to the dog, we need him not; so lie thee down, Baron, until I return.

I was always fond of "paddling my own canoe," and I never met with a single accident so long as I managed it myself; but on more occasions than one I have been turned out as gently as one turns himself in bed, and having put the frail bark to rights, have assisted the awkward fellow who had caused the disaster, dived for his gun and my own, and conducted him to the camp to dry his garments. Therefore, be quiet, and fear nothing. How smooth and silvery are the pure waters, how beautiful those tall trees! The dogwood is in full bloom, so are the maples, whose rich red blossoms cluster on the twigs. Here we are just entering the rushes of this little island. Get out, and wade to the shore with all possible gentleness; or allow me to do so; for to lighten our slight bark, one of us must get into the water. Softly we advance as I pull the canoe by the bow; but now, squat, for here are tracks of the Goosander. There now lies the female close before us. She thinks we have not seen her, for she crouches closer upon her eggs. Alarm her not, or she will soon depart.

There she croaks, and scrambling off through the tall grass, flies off on rapid wings. Look at the nest! count the eggs if you choose, but allow me, if you please, to describe them. The islands on which the Goosander is wont to breed are mostly small, as if selected for the purpose of allowing the sitting bird to get soon to the water in case of danger. The nest is very large, at times raised seven or eight inches on the top of a bed of all the dead weeds which the bird can gather in the neighbourhood. Properly speaking, the real nest, however, is not larger than that of the Dusky Duck, and is rather neatly formed externally of fibrous roots, and lined round the edges with the down of the bird. The interior is about seven and a half inches in diameter, and four inches in depth. There are seldom more than seven or eight eggs, which measure two inches and seven-eighths in length, by two inches in breadth, are of an elliptical form, being nearly equally rounded at both ends, smooth, and of a uniform dull cream-colour.

The young are led to the water in a few hours after they are hatched, and are covered with fur-like hair, of a reddish-brown colour about the head and neck, the body lightish grey. They are excellent divers, and run on the surface with surprising velocity; but they are not able to fly for nearly two months, when, being fat, they are easily fatigued if closely pursued, and on such occasions will often betake themselves to the shore, lie down, and even allow you to lay hold of them. My friend THOMAS NUTTALL has given an interesting account of his chase of a brood of Goosanders. "Early in the month of May, 1832, while descending the Susquehanna near to Dunstown, a few miles below the gorge of the Alleghanies, through which that river meanders near the foot of the Bald Eagle Mountain, G. LYMAN, Esq. and myself observed, near the head of a little bushy island, some Wild Duck, as we thought, with her brood making off round a point which closed the view.

On rowing to the spot, the wily parent had still continued her retreat, and we gave chase to the party, which with all the exertions that could be made in rowing, still kept at a respectful distance before us. We now perceived that these diminutive possessors of their natal island were a female Goosander or Dun Diver, with a small but active little brood of eight young ones. On pushing the chase for near half an hour, the young, becoming somewhat fatigued, drew around their natural protector, who now and then bore them along crowding on her back. At length, stealing nearly from our sight, as the chase relaxed, the mother landed at a distance on the gravelly shore, which being nearly of her own grey colour and that of her family, served for some time, as a complete concealment. When approached again, however, they took to the water, and after a second attempt, in which the young strove to escape by repeated divings, we succeeded in cutting off the retreat of one of the family, which was at length taken from behind a flat boat under which it had finally retreated to hide.

We now examined the little stranger, and found it to be a young Merganser of this species, not bigger than the egg of a Goose, and yet already a most elegant epitome of its female parent, generally grey, with the rufous head and neck, and the rudiments of a growing crest. After suffering itself to be examined with great calmness, and without any apparent fear, we restored it to its more natural element, and, at the first effort, this little diminutive of its species flew under the water like an arrow, and coming out to the surface only at considerable distances, we soon lost sight of it, making good its aquatic retreat in quest of the parent. On inquiry, we learned from the tavern-keeper, that for several years past a nest or brood of these birds had annually been seen near this solitary and secluded island." The male Goosanders leave the females immediately after incubation has commenced, and are then seen in the wildest parts of the country. Several females are often found breeding on the same island, and it is after their young are pretty well grown, that they moult.

For a number of years past, I have sometimes entertained a hope, at the approach of the breeding season, of finding a male Goosander having his head adorned with a broad erectile crest, like that of the female and young, but I have hitherto been disappointed, and am therefore unable to say whether such a crest ever exists in that sex. The young of both sexes retain the colouring of the female for two years, during which time the males can be distinguished from the females only by their being much larger. The males have not the rich bully tint on the breast until about two years after they have commenced breeding, and the first perceptible change by which their sex is distinguished is the appearance of black feathers on the head and neck. Until of late years, the females were thought to be of a distinct species, to which the name of Dun Diver was given. Many writers have said that this bird breeds in the hollows of trees, or on their branches; but of the various nests which I have found, not one occurred in such situations; and the Hooded Merganser is the only species of this genus which I have observed nestling, in an elevated place.

The notes of the Goosander are harsh, consisting of hoarse croaks, seldom uttered unless the bird be suddenly startled, or when courting. The females are usually silent, but when with their young brood, and pursued, they emit the same guttural sounds as the males. Goosanders are easily caught with hooks baited with fish; my friend JOHN BACHMAN has procured them in this manner on the Hudson river, and I also have on the Ohio. Along with the representation of a pair of adult birds of this species, I have given a correct view of the Cohoes Falls, in the State of New York. GOOSANDER, Mergus Merganser, Wits. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 68. MERGUS MERGANSER, Bonap. Syn., p. 397. MERGUS MERGANSER, Goosander, Swains. and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii.p. 461. GOOSANDER, Mergus Merganser, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 460.

GOOSANDER, Mergus Merganser, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 261. Male, 27, 36. Female, 24, 34. In winter dispersed over the United States, and westward as far as Texas. Breeds from Massachusetts northward, and along the Great Lakes. Adult Male. Bill about the length of the head, straight, strong, tapering, higher than broad at the base, nearly cylindrical toward the end. Upper mandible with the dorsal outline sloping gently to the middle, then straight, along the unguis suddenly decurved; the ridge broad at the base, then convex; the sides sloping rapidly at the base, convex toward the end; the edges serrated beneath; the unguis oblong, much curved, abruptly rounded at the end. Nasal groove elongated; nostrils submedial, linear, direct, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle very narrow, and extended to the unguis, which is obovate; the sides nearly erect in their outer half, with a long narrow groove, the edges serrate within. Head rather large, compressed, oblong.

Neck rather short, thick. Body full, depressed. Feet placed far behind, short, stout; tibia bare for about a quarter of an inch; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly covered with small scutella, and another row on the lower half externally, the sides reticulate. Hind toe very small, with an inferior free membrane; anterior toes half as long again as the tarsus; second shorter than fourth, which is almost as long as the third, all connected by reticulated webs, which are deeply concave; the outer toe slightly margined, the inner with a broad marginal membrane. Claws rather small, moderately arched, compressed, acute, that of the middle toe with a thin inner edge. Plumage moderately full, dense, soft, glossy. Feathers of the head and neck silky, blended, elongated along the median line, so as to form a not conspicuous crest; of the back rather compact; of the lower parts blended. Wings short, of moderate breadth, convex, acute; primaries narrow, tapering, the first scarcely shorter than the second, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries rather short, narrow, rounded, the inner elongated and tapering.

Tail short, much rounded, of eighteen rather narrow rounded feathers. Bill bright vermilion, with the unguis black. Iris carmine. Feet orange-red in winter, bright vermilion in the breeding season. Head and upper half of neck greenish-black, splendent, with bright green reflections; hind part of the neck below white; fore part of neck and all the under parts of a delicate reddish-buff; the sides of the rump and part of the abdomen greyish-white, finely undulated and dotted with dark grey; some of the lower wing-coverts dusky, the larger coverts and primaries light grey. The fore part of the back, and the inner scapulars, glossy black; the hind part ash-grey, becoming lighter and finally undulated on the rump. Upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers deep grey, outer scapulars white; a transverse band of black at the base of the wing, concealed by the scapulars.

Wing-coverts white, alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and a band formed by the base of the first row of large coverts, black; secondaries white, six of them margined externally with a black line, the innermost margined on both webs, but more broadly on the inner, and with the tip black. Length to end of tail 27 inches, to end of claws 26 1/2, to end of wings 24, to carpal joint 13 5/8, to end of green on the neck 7 1/4; extent of wings 36; bill along the ridge 2 8/12, along the edge of lower mandible 3 1/12; wing from flexure 11 1/4; tail 5; tarsus 1 (10 1/2)/12; first toe and claw 10/12; outer toe 2 (7 1/2)/12, its claw (4 1/2)/12; middle toe 2 8/12, its claw 5/12. Weight 5 lbs.

Of another 3 3/4 lbs. Dimensions of two other Males: Length to end of tail, . . . . . 26 25 7/8 inches. Length to end of claws, . . . . . 27 25 Length to end of wings, . . . . . 24 23 1/2 Extent of wings, . . . . . . . 38 35 Female. The female is much smaller. The bill, eyes, and feet are coloured as in the male, but the ridge of the bill is black, and the nail whitish; the longitudinal crest is much more elongated, being composed of linear feathers, some of them fully two inches and a half long. Head and upper part of neck brownish-red; throat white; all the upper parts, with the sides of the body and rump deep ash-grey, the feathers paler at the margin. Smaller wing-coverts and inner secondaries grey; bases and tips of secondary coverts black, the intermediate part white; middle secondaries white, outer and primaries black; anterior part of neck below faintly banded with ash-grey; breast and abdomen white, slightly tinged with buff.

Length to end of tail 24 inches, to end of claws 23 1/2, to end of wings 20 3/4; extent of wings 34; bill along the ridge 1 11/12, along the edge of lower mandible 2 1/2; wing from flexure 10 1/4; tail 4 1/2; tarsus 1 9/12; hind toe and claw (8 1/2)/12; middle toe 2 4/12, its claw 5/12; outer toe 2 4/12, its claw 4/12. The young males after the autumnal moult, and until the middle of summer, resemble the females. An adult male obtained near Boston examined. The heart is 2 inches long; the lobes of the liver are nearly equal, the right being 3 inches 7 twelfths long, the left 3 inches 3 twelfths.

The upper mandible has about 28 recurved conical, acute, horny papillae, and an internal series of smaller, on each side; the tip of the unguis serrulate; on the lower mandible are about 40 of the same nature. The tongue is 2 inches 1 twelfth long, fleshy, emarginate, and papillate at the base, tapering, with a double row of slender reversed papillae along the upper surface, and two lateral series of filaments on each side; the tip lacerated, horny on the back. Posterior nasal aperture oblong, 10 twelfths in length, papillate on the edges. Aperture of the glottis 4 1/2 twelfths long. The mouth is 10 twelfths in breadth, but may be extended to 1 inch 9 twelfths.

The oesophagus is 10 1/2 inches long, its diameter 1 inch 7 twelfths on the neck, contracting to 8 twelfths as it enters the thorax, but again expanding; the external coat of transverse muscular fibres very thick; the internal layer of longitudinal fibres very distinct; the mucous coat thrown into prominent longitudinal plaits when contracted; the mucous follicles disposed in longitudinal single series. The proventriculus is 2 inches long, the glandules very numerous, oblong, about 2 twelfths in length, forming a complete belt. The stomach is a strong gizzard, of moderate size, 2 inches long, the lateral muscles 5 twelfths thick; the epithelium very thick, nearly 1 twelfth, longitudinally rugous. In the stomach and gullet was a fish 9 inches long, the portions lying in the stomach and proventriculus partially dissolved, the rest 4 inches long, not acted upon; there were also two fragments of quartz, one of them a quarter of an inch long. The intestine is long, measuring 6 feet 3 inches, its diameter from 5 to 3 twelfths.

The coeca are 3 inches long, for half an inch 1 1/2 twelfths in diameter, in the rest of their extent 4 twelfths. The rectum 5 inches long, including the cloaca, which has a diameter of an inch and a quarter. The trachea, 10 1/2 inches long, has at first a diameter of 4 twelfths, dilates gradually to 8 twelfths, then contracts to 4 twelfths, enlarges a second time to 7 twelfths, and gradually contracts to 3 twelfths. In this space the rings, 146, are strong, broad, and osseous. At its lower part is an enormous dilatation composed of numerous united rings, bulging irregularly on the right side and behind, and on the left expanded into a case having two large spaces filled by membrane; the greatest diameter of this tympanum is 2 inches and 2 twelfths. The bronchi come off at the distance of nearly an inch from each other, and are short, but wide, with about 25 half-rings.

The lateral or contractor muscles are very strong, give off a pair of cleido-tracheals from the second enlargement, and at the commencement of the labyrinth the sterno-tracheals, which are also very large; but there are no other inferior laryngeal muscles. The intestine of a male in the first winter is 6 feet 8 inches long, its greatest diameter half an inch, wider towards the rectum than at the upper part, where the diameter is 4 twelfths. Rectum 4 1/2 inches long, exclusive of the cloaca. Coeca 2 1/4 inches. Contents of stomach, remains of fishes and a great quantity of quartz fragments. An adult female. OEsophagus 10 1/2 inches long; stomach 2 inches long; intestine 5 feet 3 inches; rectum 4 1/2; coeca 2 2/12.

The trachea 9 inches long, of uniform diameter, 4 twelfths, with a very slight dilatation toward the lower part, and at the lower larynx contracted to 3 twelfths; the last ring is very large, laterally dilated, but symmetrical; the bronchi come off at the distance of 5 twelfths from each other, and are composed of 25 rings. The tracheal rings 150. 10,000 Birds | What is a Merganser? What is a Merganser? 21 Comments One of the sweetest subsections of the duck family has to be the sawbills, formally known as mergansers. Mergansers are a family of diving waterfowl in Merginae, the seaduck subfamily of Anatidae. Ironically, only one of these seaducks is truly a seafarer, the others favoring rivers and lakes. The name ‘merganser’ is said to have originated with the German naturalist, Gesner in the mid-16th century.

This comes from a combination of the Latin words mergus (diver) and anser (goose). Mergansers are sometimes referred to sawbills because of their long, serrated bills. These narrow bills, hooked at the tip and set with numerous horny denticulations, are adapted for catching fish, a merganser’s primary source of food. Mergansers primarily feed on small or medium-sized fishes which they capture underwater by swift pursuit. These divers also supplement their piscine diet with frogs and aquatic insects. Notice the sawbill? Common Merganser female by John Borg There are six living species of mergansers, three of which are commonly spotted in North America: The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) ranges widely throughout the northern hemisphere. The name “Common Merganser” has always seemed like something of a misnomer since it isn’t particularly common during most of the year (although every winter I find huge flocks outside my office building!) Goosander, which is what this species is called in Europe, may be a more accurate alternative, although Mergus merganser doesn’t really resemble a goose either.

The drakes are quite striking, snowy white along its flanks, breast, and tail with head and neck covered in green plumage of such surpassing depth that it appears black. Common Merganser male by John Borg Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) is the marine merganser. It is also a bold world traveler, plying icy waters where usually only scoters and eiders dare to tread. While all mergansers are swift fliers, the red-breast holds the avian record for fastest level-flight at 100 mph (that’s 161 km/h!) Red-breasted Merganser by Corey Finger When is a merganser not a merganser? Perhaps when it doesn’t fall in the genus Mergus. However, the Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is so handsome, the drake flaunting a white, fan-shaped, black-bordered crest, a black body with chestnut flanks, and white breast with vivid vertical black stripes, that any family of fish ducks would be pleased to claim it. Anyway, the hoodie is the only merganser endemic to North America.

Male and female Hooded Mergansers by Corey Finger The Smew (Mergellus albellus) also falls outside the genus Mergus, so far in fact that it has been known to interbreed with Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula). This atypical merganser, which favors the coniferous reaches of Eurasia, is the smallest of all sawbills. The Chinese Merganser (Mergus squamatus) is also known as the Scaly-sided Merganser, with good reason; this dashing duck resembles a goosander with a wispy topknot and fish scales along its flanks. While this merganser does maintain a strong presence in China throughout the year, it may breed as far north as Russia and winter as far south as Thailand. It is also a species in rapid decline, considered vulnerable by some authorities and endangered by others. Chinese Mergansers do not exhibit the gregarious nature common in most ducks, usually appearing in solitary pairs or very small flocks. The most threatened of all mergansers is the Brazilian Merganser (Mergus octosetaceus).

The sole sawbill of the Southern Hemisphere is down to 200-250 birds extant mainly because the habitat it requires is equally threatened. With hope, this bird will not go the way of its extinct cousin, the Auckland Islands Merganser (Mergus australis). The Brazilian Merganser is rather drab by merganser standards but it does possess truly vibrant vermilion legs. Richard Crossley has seen a few Hooded Mergansers in his day… Mike Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation , but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird . Share This Article Common Merganser, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology Typical Voice Size & Shape These are large, long-bodied ducks with thin, pointed wings. Their bills are straight and narrow, unlike the wide, flat bill of a “typical” duck. Females have shaggy crests on the backs of their heads.

Color Pattern Adult males are crisply patterned with gleaming white bodies and dark, iridescent-green heads. The back is black and the bill red. Females and immatures are gray-bodied with a white chest and rusty-cinnamon heads. In flight, both sexes show large white patches on the upperwings (larger in adult males). Behavior Common Mergansers dive underwater to catch fish. After the chicks leave the nest in summer, the female stays with them as they grow up while males gather in flocks. In winter, mergansers form large flocks on inland reservoirs and rivers. They stay in these tight flocks to feed and court during the cold months. In migration and winter, they mix with other fish-eating, diving ducks such as Bufflehead, goldeneyes, and other species of mergansers. Habitat These ducks live mainly on freshwater rivers and lakes. They are rare in the ocean, but they sometimes use saltwater estuaries in winter. They nest in tree cavities in northern forests near rivers and lakes. Goosander Behavior - Whatbird.com Tree hole or cavity is lined with down.

Nest Location: Cavity in a tree or among boulders and in holes in the bank of a river; sometimes nest is reused following years. Migration: Most do not migrate General Goosander: Large duck with thin bill. Mostly white with creamy highlights. Black head with dark green highlights, black on back and in wings. Also pale grey lower back, rump, and tail, and dark orange bill, legs, and feet. Bill serrations usually not visible in field. Adult female has crested brown head with white chin, grey upperparts and sides, dark grey in wings, white secondaries, and white underparts. Juvenile like female but pale-yellow bill, white throat, and small white markings on face. Adult male like female but more white in wing. Range and Habitat Goosander: Winter visitor and resident breeder. During summer breeding birds can be found in Wales, north and west England, up through Scotland on upland waterways and lakes. During winter birds visit from northern Europe and are likely to be found on estuaries, lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs. Breeding and Nesting Goosander: Seasonal pair-bond, possible occasional polygamy.

Nests in solitary pairs or groups of up to 10. Nest is down-lined, in cavity of hardwood tree, on ground near fresh water, or in artificial nest box. Female builds nest, incubates, eggs, tends young. One clutch; re-nests if clutch is lost. Foraging and Feeding Goosander: known as a"sawbill", the Goosander uses its long, serrated bill to feed mostly on freshwater fish. It also eats aquatic invertebrates and amphibians; sometimes small mammals and birds. Often swims short distances in pursuit of prey. Vocalization The RSPB: Red-breasted merganser Red-breasted merganser Conservation status: Green These handsome diving ducks belong to the sawbill family, so called because of their long, serrated bills, used for catching fish. Their diet of fish such as salmon and trout has brought them into conflict with game fishermen. At home on both fresh- and saltwater, red-breasted mergansers are most commonly seen around the UK's coastline in winter. They are gregarious, forming flocks of several hundred in the autumn.

Illustrations Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae) Where to see them The UK breeding population is concentrated in the north-west of Scotland, England and Wales, and in parts of N Ireland. RSPB reserves with red-breasted mergansers in winter include: Morecambe Bay, Lancs; Langstone Harbour, Hants; Exe Estuary, Devon; Arne, Dorset; Snettisham and Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk; Lough Foyle, Co Londonderry; Belfast Lough, Co Antrim; Culbin Sands, Highland; Udale Bay, Highland. When to see them UK birds start to flock on the coast from July, reaching a peak in December. Birds from N Europe also arrive in late autumn. They return to the breeding areas in March. What they eat Merganser | Define Merganser at Dictionary.com merganser noun, plural mergansers (especially collectively) merganser. 1. any of several fish-eating diving ducks of the subfamily Merginae, having a narrow bill hooked at the tip and serrated at the edges.

Expand 1745-55; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin merg(us) diver, a kind of water bird + ānser goose Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for merganser Expand Bird Guide Chester A. Reed This evidently refers to the Goosander, which as he says in another place most answers to the merganser. The Sailor's Word-Book William Henry Smyth Spic′ūlum, a spicule; Spike′bill, a merganser, a sawbill: the marbled godwit. British Birds in their Haunts Rev. C. A. Johns The name merganser, that is, 'Diving Goose', has reference to the size of the bird and its habit of diving for its food. British Birds in their Haunts Rev. C. A. Johns For all the splendor of his plumage, the merganser was not conspicuous where he sat. Hoof and Claw Charles G. D. Roberts British Dictionary definitions for merganser Expand noun (pl) -sers, -ser 1.

any of several typically crested large marine diving ducks of the genus Mergus, having a long slender hooked bill with serrated edges Also called sawbill See also goosander Word Origin C18: from New Latin, from Latin mergus waterfowl, from mergere to plunge + anser goose Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for merganser Expand n. type of duck, 1752, coined in Modern Latin (1550s), from Latin mergus "waterfowl, diver" (from mergere "to dip, immerse;" see merge (v.)) + anser "goose" (see goose (n.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Common merganser videos, photos and facts - Mergus merganser | ARKive Top Common merganser biology The diet of the common merganser consists mainly of small fish, but it will also take insects, molluscs , crustaceans , worms, amphibians, and even small mammals and birds (4) (5) (7) (9) . Adult common mergansers have sometimes been recorded swallowing fish up to 30 centimetres or more in length (5) (7) . Most feeding takes place during the day (5) (8) . The common merganser swims low in the water (5) (6) , often repeatedly dipping its head beneath the surface until prey is spotted. It then dives and pursues its prey underwater (4) (5) (7) (8) . The common merganser’s legs are positioned far back on its body, making it an efficient swimmer but awkward at walking on land (2) (5) . A gregarious species, the common merganser often feeds in groups of up to 75 individuals outside of the breeding season.

Large flocks also come together to roost, sometimes numbering several thousand birds (5) (8) (9) . In some areas, the breeding season of the common merganser begins around late March, but it may occur somewhat later further north (8) (9) . Courtship displays often involve several pairs (5) , and include the male swimming rapidly in circles near the female before stretching the neck and bill upwards and calling (7) . The common merganser is generally monogamous (5) . Somewhat unusually for a duck, the common merganser nests in cavities in trees, either in natural hollows or in holes made by woodpeckers. If suitable tree holes are not available, this species will also use artificial nest boxes, cliff ledges, rock crevices, hollow logs, holes among tree roots, or even old buildings (4) (5) (7) (9) . The nest cavity may be lined with down from the female’s breast (4) (5) (7) . The common merganser occasionally breeds in loose colonies, with several females nesting together in the same tree (5) (8) (9) .

The common merganser lays between 6 and 17 creamy-white eggs (4) (5) , which are incubated by the female for 28 to 35 days (5) (7) . Female common mergansers will often lay eggs in the nests of other females, or in the nests of other cavity-nesting ducks. Other ducks, such as the hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) and common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), also sometimes lay their eggs in the nests of this species (5) . Young common mergansers are well developed at hatching, and leave the nest hole at just one or two days old (4) (5) (7) . The young jump to the ground from the nest, and are led to water by the female (5) . Although the female common merganser cares for the chicks for several weeks, the chicks catch their own food, initially eating aquatic insects before starting to eat fish from about 12 days old (4) (5) (7) . The female abandons the young before they become capable of flight at about 60 to 75 days old (5) .

Male common mergansers leave the females early on in the incubation period and gather in flocks to moult , often travelling considerable distances to suitable waters (8) (9) . This species often remains around its breeding grounds for as long as open, unfrozen water allows (8) , with the main migration to the wintering areas usually occurring between October and December (9) . The female common merganser has been recorded breeding from two years old, typically laying one clutch a year. This species has been known to live for up to 13 years (5) . Top Common merganser range The common merganser is widespread across the whole of the northern hemisphere, occurring in Europe, Asia and North America. Its breeding range includes northern Europe and Scandinavia, central Asia, Russia, western China, Japan, and Canada and the northern United States (9) . Many northern populations move south in winter, into the United States, Europe, central Asia, the east coast of China, Korea and Japan. However, in some areas the common merganser is resident year-round or migrates only short distances (5) (9) . As their common names suggest, the Eurasian merganser (M. m.

merganser) occurs in Europe and Asia, the Asiatic goosander (M. m. orientalis) occurs in Asia, and the American merganser (M. m. americanus) occurs in Canada and the United States (2) (3) (8) . Top Common merganser threats The common merganser has an extensive range, and its populations are thought to be stable or increasing (5) (9) . However, it may face a number of threats. In some areas, the common merganser is persecuted by anglers and fish-farmers in the belief that it competes for fish stocks (3) (5) (9) , and it is sometimes accidentally drowned in fishing nets (9) . It is not a popular game bird, but is still often shot in parts of North America and Russia (5) (9) . The common merganser’s eggs have sometimes been harvested in Iceland (9) .

Degradation of freshwater lakes through drainage, pollution and acid rain threatens the common merganser’s breeding grounds (5) (9) , while its migration and wintering grounds are being affected by river channelisation, the loss of wetlands, and increased sedimentation from agriculture and industry (5) . Forestry practices and logging may also reduce the availability of suitable nest cavities, further limiting this species’ populations (5) . A potential future threat to the common merganser comes from outbreaks of avian influenza , to which this species is susceptible (9) . Top Common merganser conservation As a top predator in its habitat, the common merganser is considered to be an important indicator of the health of aquatic ecosystems, and has been involved indirectly in management plans to reduce pollution (5) . In North America, programmes to install artificial nest boxes have not directly targeted the common merganser, but it is likely to benefit from boxes placed for other species (5) . Recommendations for future studies that would aid in the conservation and management of the common merganser include investigating its breeding requirements, winter habitats and population size (5) .

Cormorants and Fisheries | The Wildlife Trusts Cormorants and Fisheries Protect local wildlife Amy Lewis An increase in the UK cormorant population, and a rise in the number of still water fisheries since the 1970s, has led to an increased focus on the impacts of cormorant predation on fish species. Where there is evidence of damage to fisheries and where non-lethal methods of control have been tried but failed, Natural England may issue a licence for the shooting of cormorants and other fish-eating birds, such as heron, goosander and red-breasted merganser, which at all other times are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). The current licence system sets limits on the number of cormorants and other fish–eating birds that can be killed and also specifies time periods when shooting is allowed under licence. In 2011, Defra launched a review of Natural England’s current licensing system for cormorants and the results are due to be published late in 2012.

In July 2012, the Angling Trust, supported by the Salmon and Trout Association, the Wild Trout Trust, the Rivers Trust, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and others, launched a campaign ‘Action on Cormorants’ that calls for cormorants to be included on Natural England’s ‘general licence’ - which does not provide the kind of specific safeguards of the current licence for management and control of fish-eating birds. On behalf of this coalition of organisations The Angling Trust presented a statement to Government urging it to add goosander, as well as cormorant, to the general licence. The Wildlife Trusts’ position The Wildlife Trusts are opposed to changing the current licensing system to enable a general licence to be issued for the killing of cormorants and other fish-eating birds. We believe that the Government’s priority should be to strengthen and implement policies that will enable effective and speedy restoration of damaged rivers and wetlands, for example through reform of the current abstraction regime, effective regulation, and implementation of the Water Framework Directive.

The Wildlife Trusts are working in partnership with others, including angling organisations, to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems that, with the right policies in place, will be able to support healthy populations of fish species, native fish-eating birds and sustainable fisheries in the future. The cormorant’s chequered history The cormorant is a native species first recorded in the UK in medieval times. Conflicts between fishing interests and cormorants have a long history and general persecution of these birds is commonly reported as far back as Tudor times. However significant increases in persecution occurred in some areas in the early years of the twentieth century – for example on rivers in the south west of England. The cormorant population, which was at a low ebb in the early 1970s, recovered in response to legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and increases in prey availability. There are two sub species of cormorant in the UK.

It is estimated that there were 8,355 breeding pairs of cormorant in the UK in 1998-2002 with a winter population of 35, 000 individuals in 2004-2009. Ringing data held by the British Trust for Ornithology shows that a frequent movement/migration of birds occurs between the UK and Europe. Find out more here . Goosander The first confirmed breeding record of this handsome ‘saw-billed’ duck dates from 1871. Since 1970 the bird has increased its range across the UK and the UK breeding population is estimated at 2,300-2,900 pairs (1987) with 12, 000 birds estimated to over-winter. Find out more here . Protecting fisheries from fish-eating birds Culling of fish-eating birds is currently regarded as a last resort as there are several ways in which predation of fish can be reduced.

Much advice is available on the subject, with non lethal techniques including the creation of refuges or cover for fish, for example by increasing the extent of marginal or in-channel vegetation or installing woody debris. Under the current licensing system the average number of birds culled per year since 2004 is 1,395: 10-11% of the overwintering population. In 2011, Natural England licenced the shooting of 2,596 cormorants. The impact of current culling programmes on the conservation status of the species is currently unclear. Further information

Question: What type of bird is a goosander?
Answer: DUCK